Purpose of Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

The District is requesting statements of qualifications from firms who can successfully demonstrate they have the relevant experience, qualifications, and resources to perform the professional services scope of work as described in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). From this RFQ, the District will select the firm who has demonstrated the necessary qualifications and capacity to successfully perform and complete the project. The firm will operate under the direction of the District and will be responsible for the successful management and delivery of services.

The services outlined in the scope of work express minimum expectations of the District. Responding firms shall use their professional judgment when developing their Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) to ensure submissions reflect applicable and relevant experiences pertinent to successful completion of the scope of work.

Additionally, the District’s Strategic Framework (Mission and Vision Statements, Core Services, and Goals) as described in “About the District,” serve as a guide for internal day-to-day and long-term decision making and operations. This framework should be considered by responding firms in their understanding of the District’s purpose, goals, and overall project scope of this RFQ.

Scope of Work

Objective:

The Energy Corridor District is seeking professional services to develop dynamic design standards and streetscape guidelines for the District. The developed design standards and streetscape guidelines will reflect current governmental code and ordinances; support optimal planning, design, and construction; reflect considerations of all users; achieve cost-savings for both public and private investments; minimize, with the goal of eliminating, unintended consequences for a lack of cohesive planning; all while encouraging long-term economic vitality within the District and beyond.

The District seeks to create a uniform and consistent standard throughout our boundaries. This includes standards for improvement projects and other developments in public right-of-way, easements, esplanades, travelways, shared streetscape realms, etc. This also include existing District infrastructure, such as street signage, bus shelters, and other items.

Context:

The uniform design standards and streetscape guidelines are critical to enhance the District’s sense of place. The developed standards and guidelines will focus on creating a consistent and unique, but dynamic urban and environmental character for the District.

By developing design standards and streetscape guidelines, the District seeks to build upon its past investments. Existing designs related to pedestrian crossings, ornamental lighting, bollards, signage, bus shelters, as well as other streetscapes, landscape, and hardscape improvements should be reviewed and considered. Additionally, the 2015 Master Plan should be reviewed for its relevancy. The master plan outlined a long-term vision and established guiding principles with feedback received from community leaders and business stakeholders. Other previously District developed planning documents, which may be relevant to the scope of work, include the Livable Centers Plan, Memorial Drive and Eldridge Parkway Protected Intersection Project, Langham Park Master Plan, and West Houston Trails Master Plan.

Contemplation of new ideas and principles should be incorporated into the development process to ensure the resulting design standards and streetscape guidelines are reflective of the District’s current vision. This process should also consider District stakeholder feedback and input prior to finalization and adoption.

The developed standards and guidelines will be publicly available and promoted to ensure they are incorporated into both new and re-development public and private projects within District boundaries. The design standards and streetscape guidelines, once developed and implemented, will continue to position the District as a high-quality economic center and premier place to work, live, play, and invest.

Deliverables:

The project deliverables shall include at a minimum:

1. A report, which includes detailed analysis and considerations for:

1. Government code and ordinances
2. Support for optimal planning, design, and construction related to the developed standards and guidelines
3. Users interactions
4. How standards and guidelines would achieve cost-savings for both public and private
5. investments
6. Reduction of unintended consequences for a lack of cohesive planning
7. How the standards will encourage long-term economic vitality within the District and
8. beyond.
9. Implementation and maintenance cost

2. Design Standards and Streetscape Guidelines Catalog

1. Provide a catalog which depicts developed District standards and guidelines. The catalog should provide an introduction; insight into the development process; purpose and goals; listing of detailed design standards and guidelines detailed by photos, graphics, and other elements to highlight and emphasize implementation strategies and benefits; and resources and references.

The selected firm may be retained by the District to perform other Planning and Engineering Professional Services at the request of the organization.

D. General RFQ Information

Issued: September 24th, 2020
Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) Due: 5:00 p.m. on October 23rd, 2020
Format: One (1) Digital copy as a PDF file
Submit to: fdemarie@energycorridor.org with Subject line: The Energy Corridor District SOQ for The Energy Corridor District Design Standards and Streetscape Guidelines

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Submittal Requirements

The District is requesting SOQs from firms who can successfully demonstrate they have the relevant experience, qualifications, and resources to perform the professional services as described in this RFQ. Responding firms must ensure their SOQ includes the following:

1. Letter of Interest – Responding firms must submit a one (1) page letter consisting of a statement of interest in the project and availability of the firm to provide the service.

2. Statement of Qualifications –

   1. Provide an understanding of the firm’s capabilities to perform the project.

   2. Demonstrate the firm’s capabilities and qualifications by providing a minimum of three projects of similar scope completed by the firm and/or key individuals within the firm over the past five (5) years. If possible, include projects delivered for jurisdictions of similar size.

      1. At a minimum, the SOQ should describe specifics such as the project’s name, client’s name, project description, period of performance/completion timeframe for which the project was pursued and completed, order of magnitude, and applicable results yielded from the project’s implementation. A point of contact for each project should be included.

3. Proposed Approach – Demonstrate the firm’s understanding of the scope of work by providing an outline of its recommended approach to accomplish the scope of work. The outline should not exceed two (2) pages.

4. Proposed Project Team – Provide a list of the proposed project team members and, if applicable, consultants and sub-consultants external to your firm. Include a listing of relevant professional qualifications and experiences for each individual on the project team.

5. References - Include three (3) to five (5) references from clients/agencies for which your firm has performed similar or relevant work. Include names, titles, complete address, phone numbers and email addresses.

Evaluation and selection criteria

The District will review and evaluate all submittals received by the designated closing date and that meet the submittal requirements outlined in the RFQ. The submitted SOQs will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Demonstrated capabilities and qualifications of the firm

• Demonstrated qualifications and relevant experiences of the project team

• Demonstrated experiences with projects of a similar scope of work

• Proposed approach, which demonstrates a clear understanding and the ability to accomplish the

  District’s minimum requirements

• Additional creative solutions proposed by the consultant that exceed the expressed minimum

  requirements of the RFQ

• Any other considerations the District deems relevant

  Based on the evaluation, the District may select a firm or establish a short-list of firms for further consideration and evaluation. The selected firm(s) may be offered the opportunity to participate in an interview/presentation to further demonstrate capabilities, qualifications, experiences, and proposed approach to accomplishing the scope of work.

  At the completion of the RFQ evaluation process, the District may work with a selected firm to negotiate a proposal to accomplish the outlined scope of work.

RFQ Procurement Schedule

• Issuance of RFQ – Friday, September 25th, 2020

• Questions Submittal - Monday, October 5th, 2020

• Response to questions (posted on the District’s website) - Friday, October 9th, 2020

• SOQ Submission date – Friday, October 23rd, 2020

• Interviews (if any) – Starting Monday, November 2nd, 2020

• Firm Selection – Friday, November 13th, 2020

  The District reserves the right to make any changes to the schedule. In the event of a change of schedule, an addendum shall be posted on the District’s website.

Submission of Questions from Potential Offerors

The District will consider questions related to the District requirements outlined in this RFQ. Questions must be submitted in writing and emailed to Fabiana Demarie at fdemarie@energycorridor.org by the due date identified in the procurement schedule. The District’s response to submitted questions will be posted to the District’s website by the date identified in the procurement schedule.

Notification Procedures

Responding firms will be notified by electronic mail of the selected firm once approved and under contract with the District.